ratooning

horticulture

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July 13, 2026

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Ratooning is a horticultural practice where a perennial plant, such as sugarcane or bananas, is allowed to regrow from its existing root system after the initial harvest. Instead of replanting, the plant sends up new shoots, known as ratoons. This method allows for subsequent crops to be produced without the need for new planting. The verb "to ratoon" means to sprout or grow from the root, or to cultivate a crop from these ratoons. This technique is valuable for its efficiency and ability to yield multiple harvests from a single planting.12

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sugarcane
Culture and cultivation
…of cane propagation is by ratooning, in which, when the cane is harvested, a portion of stalk is left underground to give rise to a succeeding growth of cane, the ratoon or stubble crop. The ratooning process is usually repeated three times so that three economical crops are taken from…
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…of cane propagation is by ratooning, in which, when the cane is harvested, a portion of stalk is left underground to give rise to a succeeding growth of cane, the ratoon or stubble crop. The ratooning process is usually repeated three times so that three economical crops are taken from…
Read More